Car coupler controller



Jan. 17, 1933. J. WILSON 1,894,363

CAR COUPLER CONTROLLER Filed June 26. 1 931 5 Sheets-Sheet l Jamil 17, 1933. J. WILSON- CAR COUPLER CONTROLLER Filed June 26. 1951 s Sheets-Sheet 2' Jan. 17, 1933. J, w o 1,894,363

CAR COUPLER CONTROLLER Filed June 26. 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Jan. 17, 1933 UNITED STATES PATE T JACK WILSON. OF CHICAGO, ILLnvoIs, Ass'IGnon. To UNIVERSAL DR F 'Q' 7 ATTACHMENT 00., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A oonromTrON r ILLINOIS CAR cournnn coN itoLtnn Application filedjJ'une 26, 1931. serial no: 546,957,

The invention relates to devices for laterally positioning an oscillatable car couplerand for disengaging the coupler from that of'another car. i Y

In accordance with present railroading practice the draw-bar carryingthe cou'p'ler head is capable of lateral oscillation relatively to the car, and the coupling operation is automatically accomplished. As two cars are brought together it is essential to the automatic coupling action that the draw-bars be so positioned that the coupling elements make directcontact. ,Ofiicial regulationsrequire the provision of means for manually positioning the draw-bar from the side of the car, and this has been accomplishedby the use of a pull and thrust rod attached to the draw-bar and projecting beyond the plane of the car side.

The regulations also require that means be provided for disengaging the couplers without requiring the operator to enter be-' tween the cars, and to this end it has been the practice to attach a turning crank-rod to the releasing element of the coupler, the outer end of the rod projecting to or beyond the plane of the car side. I

v The principal object of the present invention is to provide for these two operations 0 by means of a single rod. Further objects of the invention are to provide simple and convenient means for actuating the rod both longitudinally and about its axis.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are hereinafter described, and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a detail plan view of a car and its coupler and of the improved controlling means, a portion of the car being shown in section; d Fig. 2 is a detail end elevation of the car; Fig. 3 is a detail side elevation of the parts shown in Figs. 1 and 2; V

Fig. 4 is a view taken on the line 47-4 of Fig. 2;

Figs. 5 and 6 are sectional details on the lines 55 and 6-.-6, respectively, of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a group ofthe various elements of the controlling devicev of Figs. 5and 6, shown in perspective;

is a View similar to Fig. 1, showing a different form. of controlling device; I Fig. 9 i'sa' view from the line 9 -9 of Fig.

t; and

Fig. 10 is a group oflthe various elements ofthe controlling device, shown in perspec- At 15 thereis shown an end sill of acar; at l6 its drawebartand at 17 itscoupler head, of standard type. The coupler heado'o' carries the usual elements for engagement with a similar head on an adjacent car, in-. eluding, ajlo'cking pin 18 which,;as usual, is automatic in its engaging action and is manuallyreleased by-araising movement. 2

[A1 rod 'l9, having-a crank-arm 20 at its inner end in engagement with the pin 18 and adapted toirai'se the latter whenturned, is inrotative engagement at its outer end with a depending lever 21, pivotally attached, by I means of a bracket'22, to an element of the car body,-as shown the end sill 23. v 1 5 r r In the construction disclosed-in Figs. 1 to;

7 of the drawings, the lever 21is a rigid bar to which. is attached a. bearing box compris ing the elements 24, 25, carrying the outer'end f of;the-rodz19. The-elements 24,, 25,'are in-o closed and turnbetween a pair of lugs 26,27, projecting laterally .from the. lever bar, and

are secured in place by means of a plate 28, F1

apertured'to-receive the: outer ends of the lugs 26, 27 One of these'lugs, as 26, is-pro- 1 vided at its outer end with a hook 29 for re- L taining the upper end ofthe plate 28, and the, other lug-27 is apertured to receive a retain- 5 ing cotter. pin30.

' The outer ends of the elements 24, 25, carry clamping jaws31, 32,,for receiving a downturned crank-arm 33 of the rod19. The elements 24, 25, are secured togetherbyarivet f 34,'and one of them, as 24, carries a depend ing lug 35, which laterally engages the lever. 21dand limits the turning movement of the For releasing the lockingpin 18 the rod 953 1-9 is turned with the bearing box carried by the lever, and for positioning the coupler head to align it with that of a car with which 7 it is'to be engaged the rod is drawn or thrust longitudinally by means of the lever 21.

In the form of the device illustrated in Figs. 8 to 10, in place of the one-piece lever bar, as hereinbefore described, there is shown a jointed lever comprising the two parts 36,

37, the former being pivotedto the car body or frame for swinging movement transverse to the car, and the latter being pivoted, as shown at 38, to the member 36 for swinging movement in a direction parallel with the 10 ion itudinal' axis of the car. n

i T e outer end of the rod 19, in this instance,

is upturned, as shown at 39, this end projecting between a pair of jaws 40, 41, formed on the upper end of the leverelement 37,

and is secured thereto by means of a pivot pin 42'. The lever element '37 is provided with'a pair of laterally projecting lugs 43,v 44, which engage the lower end of the element 36 as a limiting stop.

For the purpose of turning the rod 19 to raise the locking pin 18, the lever element 37 is swung away from the car body, turning on its pivot 38, and for positioning the coupler head the entire lever is swung upon its carrying pivot 45. i

I claim as my invention 1. In a'coupler controller, in combination, a depending lever adapted for pivotal at- .tachment to a car body', -a rotative bearing box carried by the lever,a rod adapted for attachment to an elementof a coupler and projecting through the box and having a crank arm at its outer end, and being secured to the lever against longitudinal movement 7 relative thereto. a

2 In a coupler controller, in combination, a depending lever adapted for'pivotal attach mentto a car body, a rotative bearing box carried by the lever, a rod adapted for at- 49 "tachment to an element of a coupler and projecting through the box and having a crank arm at its outer end, and a pair of clamping jaws carried by the box and engaging V the crank arm of "the rod.

3; In a coupler controller, in combination, a depending lever adapted for pivotal at tachm'ent'to a car body, a rotativefbearing box carried by the lever, a rod adapted-forab tachment to an element of a coupler and pro-,

50 jecting through the box and having a crank arm at its outer end, a pair of clamping jaws carried by thebox and engaging the crank arm of the rod, and a lug carried by the jaws for engaging the lever as a limiting stop.

i In testimony whereof I afix my signature;

JACK WILSON. 

